Debunking Diet Myths
Posted by Joy M at 8/24/2009 9:55 PM 
Categories: Working Out, Diet and Nutrition
Tags: Fitness Health
Categories: Working Out, Diet and Nutrition
Tags: Fitness Health
Proverbs 1:5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance-
I was hoping that the Time article I mentioned two days ago in It's The Food was going to start a larger discussion on diet and exercise and it has. This morning on the Today Show, Dr Nancy Schinderman discussed the topic with Natalie Morales. Natalie was actually annoyed by the article. I know she's run marathons in the past and my guess is that saying that exercise provides no value in weight loss goes against everything she believes.
Valueless exercise would annoy me too. However, I think the point I want to focus on is that you can lose weight without exercise and, conversely, you can exercise and not lose weight. The eating part is important and I think frequently not given as much attention as some of us give it. I don't have any science to back up my point. I simply have anecdotal information and my own personal experience. Personally, I've eaten far too much ice cream fully aware that the calories in the ice cream alone are more than I need for the day. I've heard many people -- inside the gym and out -- rationalize eating something extra because they have exercised.
Actually, I don't think Dr. Schinderman has any science to back up her claim that you would "probably will say no to the bag of potato chips" after working out because you are making a more thoughtful choice. I wish it were true. I just don't believe it to be so.
The foundation that our weight is based on calories in and calories out is certainly true. Some of us aren't paying attention to how many calories we really are inhaling and how few we really are expending. It seems to me that the country is addicted to the diet and exercise plans that focus on the quick and immediate weight-loss and that we are not committed to a plan for the long-term. We'd rather eat whatever we want to eat and what we want is not necessarily good for us.
I don't think we need to completely give up our treats, but we can't treat ourselves everyday. We need to pray for some wisdom and discernment as we listen to all the diet and exercise news. After we hear, we need to act appropriately. Debunking medical myths is going to take more effort and study. While we're waiting for the science to provide us with precise information, we need to do what we know. Follow a healthy diet and exercise plan. The answer today is the same as yesterday or the day before.
I was hoping that the Time article I mentioned two days ago in It's The Food was going to start a larger discussion on diet and exercise and it has. This morning on the Today Show, Dr Nancy Schinderman discussed the topic with Natalie Morales. Natalie was actually annoyed by the article. I know she's run marathons in the past and my guess is that saying that exercise provides no value in weight loss goes against everything she believes.
Valueless exercise would annoy me too. However, I think the point I want to focus on is that you can lose weight without exercise and, conversely, you can exercise and not lose weight. The eating part is important and I think frequently not given as much attention as some of us give it. I don't have any science to back up my point. I simply have anecdotal information and my own personal experience. Personally, I've eaten far too much ice cream fully aware that the calories in the ice cream alone are more than I need for the day. I've heard many people -- inside the gym and out -- rationalize eating something extra because they have exercised.
Actually, I don't think Dr. Schinderman has any science to back up her claim that you would "probably will say no to the bag of potato chips" after working out because you are making a more thoughtful choice. I wish it were true. I just don't believe it to be so.
The foundation that our weight is based on calories in and calories out is certainly true. Some of us aren't paying attention to how many calories we really are inhaling and how few we really are expending. It seems to me that the country is addicted to the diet and exercise plans that focus on the quick and immediate weight-loss and that we are not committed to a plan for the long-term. We'd rather eat whatever we want to eat and what we want is not necessarily good for us.
I don't think we need to completely give up our treats, but we can't treat ourselves everyday. We need to pray for some wisdom and discernment as we listen to all the diet and exercise news. After we hear, we need to act appropriately. Debunking medical myths is going to take more effort and study. While we're waiting for the science to provide us with precise information, we need to do what we know. Follow a healthy diet and exercise plan. The answer today is the same as yesterday or the day before.
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